Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 24 - Mental Health
Part 3 - Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) Division of Professional Licensure and Certification (PLACE) Professional Credentialing Rules and Requirements
Chapter 18 - Professional Responsibilities
Rule 24-3-18.9 - Provisional Certification Status Categories

a. In rare and extenuating circumstances, the Review Board may grant a provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) Extended Status on his/her provisional certification.

b. Extended status will only be granted to a provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) who is in good standing at the time of the request.

c. To obtain an extension, the individual should submit a written/email request to the Division of PLACE. The Division will subsequently present the request to the Review Board. In the request, the provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) should specifically request Extended Status, provide an explanation as to why the extension is needed and indicate a specific time period for the extension. Any documentation which supports the request should also be submitted. The Review Board may verify the circumstances surrounding the request.

d. An individual on Extended Status is expected to comply with the terms of the extension as granted by the Review Board. Failure to do so may result in Defaulted Status.

e. The maximum allowable time frame for which an extension may be granted is up to six months (subject to the approval of the PLACE Review Board).

f. If the extension request is granted, the provisional expiration date will be moved to the new expiration date, with no break in provisional credentialing dates. However, if the extension request is not granted, the provisional credential will automatically default, effective per the original provisional expiration date.

g. If a provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) is approved for Extended Status, he/she will only be allowed one (1) extension.

h. Second or subsequent Extended Status requests will not considered.

a. Due to extenuating circumstances, the Review Board may grant Extended Status to an individual who is unable to complete all requirements to upgrade to full certification within the required two-year (24 consecutive months) time limit. An extension is intended to allow a provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) additional time to complete the upgrade requirements.

b. An individual granted Extended Status who is currently employed in the state mental health system is allowed to practice with their respective provisional credential (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) and is expected to complete all requirements of provisional certification by the approved deadline for the extension.

a. The Review Board may also grant Extended Status to a provisionally-certified individual (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) who has temporarily left employment in a state mental health system program.

b. An individual granted an extension due to having left state mental health system employment may neither practice with his/her DMH provisional credential (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) nor register through DMH for any certification activities for upgrade.

c. An individual on Extended Status for this reason would need to submit a written/email request to be returned to Current Status, along with a new Verification of Employment Form from the individual's new place of employment.

d. Upon returning to Current Status, the individual will again be allowed to practice with his/her DMH provisional credential (i.e., PCMHT, PCIDDT, PCAT and PCCSS) and will be able to register (through DMH) for and attend any certification activities required for upgrade.

e. An individual who was previously in Extended Status and who has been returned to Current Status is expected to complete all requirements of provisional certification by the approved deadline.

a. Failure to complete all upgrade requirements during the two-year, 24 consecutive month Provisional Certification Period;

b. Failure to submit an upgrade application so that it is received by the Division within established timelines;

c. Failure to submit a request for Extended Status, or other status change request, so that it is received within established timelines;

d. Review Board's determination of failure to submit a satisfactory request for Extended (or other) Status;

e. Failure to comply with the terms of an extension granted by the Review Board;

f. Separation from employment in the state mental health system without appropriate change in status category; and/or,

g. Failure of the DMH Mental Health Therapist Examination/DMH Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Therapist Examination/DMH Addictions Therapist Examination, as applicable, a fourth time.